Europe – Page 27 – Prologue Journal

Grenfell Tower Was a Death Trap. Some Wanted It to Stand as a Warning.

New York Times Britain’s government confirmed Friday that the tower block in London, where 72 people died, would be demolished, provoking a combination of anger and relief from survivors and bereaved families. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/world/europe/grenfell-tower-demolition-memorial-debate.html

A Fungus That Turns Spiders Into Zombies Is a Discovery to Haunt Your Nightmares

New York Times A BBC documentary crew in Northern Ireland stumbled upon a fungus that hijacks spiders in an arachnid version of “The Last of Us.” https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/science/spiders-fungus-zombies-bbc.html

Sweden Plans Tighter Gun Laws After Orebro Mass Shooting

New York Times The changes would make it harder to access semiautomatic weapons, and enhance police and medical checks in license applications. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/world/europe/sweden-gun-laws.html

Khamenei of Iran Denounces Negotiation With U.S. but Seems to Leave Door Ajar

New York Times Both President Trump and Iranian officials have shown interest in negotiations. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the idea unwise, but stopped short of ordering his government not to engage. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/world/europe/khamenei-iran-us-negotiations.html

At a Draft Site in Ukraine, an Anguished Wait for a Chance to Say Goodbye

New York Times The Ukrainian authorities are rounding up recruits. Relatives huddle at a center on the edge of Kyiv for a chance to see loved ones before they’re shipped to war. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/world/europe/ukraine-war-troops-draft-recruitment.html

Friday Briefing

New York Times U.S. sanctions on the International Criminal Court. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/briefing/sanctions-icc-trump-warming.html

Europe’s Trump Playbook: Offer Carrots but Warn That You Have a Big Stick

New York Times The European Union’s so-called Trump task force spent 2024 preparing for a possible trade dispute. Specifics are secret, but guiding principles are becoming clear. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/world/europe/eu-tariffs-trump.html

Palmerston, the British Foreign Service Cat, Takes Up New Post in Bermuda

New York Times The cat, who first served in 2016, had feuded with Larry, the chief mouser at 10 Downing Street. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/world/europe/cat-britain-palmerston-bermuda.html

‘Screams and Smoke’: How a Deadly Mass Shooting Unfolded in Sweden

New York Times The police responding to the attack encountered firing so intense that they struggled to tell how many gunmen were on the scene, an official said. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/world/europe/sweden-shooting-scene.html

Daniel Barenboim Announces He Has Parkinson’s Disease

New York Times “I am planning to maintain as many of my professional commitments as possible,” the conductor said. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/arts/music/daniel-barenboim-parkinsons-disease.html